See you there!

Join early childhood professionals to grow your skills, make an impact, and connect with a community that shares your passion.

See you there!

Join early childhood professionals to grow your skills, make an impact, and connect with a community that shares your passion.

The first three years of life are the most important for lifelong mental health and well-being.

We use early childhood development research to create meaningful resources for families, professionals, and policymakers who shape the lives of young children.

Impact Stories

Discover real-world stories and learn about people who make a real impact.

To be able to interact with people within ZERO TO THREE who are on the same page as me, that mutual understanding is a balm to my soul.

Dr. Mollie Nisen

See All Stories

Our Focus

At ZERO TO THREE, we offer early childhood trainings and resources to address the most critical issues impacting babies and toddlers. Explore our fields of focus.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Trauma

Early Learning

Early Development

Physical Health & Nutrition

Child Care

Child Welfare

Economic Security

Making an Impact Together

Our belief that every child deserves a strong start in life fuels a collective mission to foster healthy development from the very beginning.

Support for Parents and Caregivers

Understanding child development and your role as a parent or caregiver is crucial for molding babies and toddlers into the best versions of themselves. We support parents and caregivers through our projects and programs and early childhood development resources, including research-based tips and tools for effective parenting.

Resources for Professionals

Advance your knowledge and skills with our comprehensive early childhood education training programs for professionals. Our resources, from conferences to free webinars, provide guidance for educators, health care workers and other early childhood professionals. They are designed to enhance your understanding of childhood development and inform effective teaching strategies.

Policy and Advocacy

ZERO TO THREE advocates for policies that promote the well-being and development of babies and toddlers as well as their families. We engage in research and collaborate with policymakers and state legislators to influence legislation related to early childhood education, child welfare and child care solutions. We dedicate our efforts to ensure the needs of infants and toddlers are prioritized in public policy decisions.

Mental and Emotional Health

We emphasize the importance of mental and emotional health in infancy and early childhood development. We provide resources and training for parents, caregivers and professionals on how to nurture emotional well-being in babies and toddlers. Through our programs and campaigns, we promote awareness of the critical impact of early experiences on mental health. We also develop guidelines and tools that you can use to support the mental and emotional needs of babies and toddlers.

Community Support

Our programs, early childhood development resources and training programs empower communities. In addition to offering local resources, we facilitate training sessions for community organizations and professionals to enhance their capacity to support children and families effectively. By fostering community engagement and collaboration, we help create environments that nurture healthy childhood development.

"This is just what I needed to reestablish my motivation in moving forward with this work."

The Latest News and Featured Resources

Explore the latest news and updates in the field of early childhood development.

Open Letter

Reflective Practice Is Hard Work, Here’s Why It’s Worth It

Janie Huddleston highlights how reflective practice, though difficult, is essential for transforming leaders and teams, and serving families in early childhood systems.

Details

Distillation

Supporting Babies and Toddlers After Death of a Parent: What Educators Need to Know

Guidance for early childhood educators on how to support babies and toddlers after the death of a parent, using trauma-informed strategies and relationship-based care.

Details

Good Question

How does parenting across two homes affect babies?

Babies can thrive in two-home arrangements when parents work together to keep caregiving consistent, transitions gentle and relationships strong.

Details

Distillation

The Child Care Paradox: Families Pay More, Educators Earn Less

America’s child care system is collapsing . Families are paying more than they can afford, while the very educators who make care possible remain some of the lowest-paid workers in the country. The result? Families are squeezed, programs are closing, and children are caught in the middle.

Details

Resource

Problem Solvers: A Free Preschool STEM Curriculum

Children can learn about math, science and engineering through everyday play. Download our complete preschool and early STEM curriculum, activity guide and songs.

Details

Resource

The Baby Brain Map: Your Guide to Early Brain Development

Details

Good Question

Understanding Toddler Behavior: What’s Typical and When to Seek Help

When we start to wonder about a child’s mental health, it’s not about labeling or fixing. It’s about noticing patterns, asking questions, and partnering with families to better understand what might be going on.

Details

Distillation

Why the First 1,000 Days Matter: Advocacy Tips for Early Childhood Professionals

An early childhood advocacy guide for professionals who want to be a big voice for little kids.

Details

Resource

Preventing Burnout in Early Childhood Professionals: Practical Self-Care Strategies

Understanding the common causes and exploring ways to address burnout in early childhood education can help you effectively manage or even prevent it..

Details

Virtual Event

Strengthening the IECMH Workforce: New Competencies, Shared Supports

In a time when mental health challenges are touching families and professionals alike, supporting the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) workforce has never been more critical.

Details

Distillation

The Importance of Responsive Parenting: Building Strong Emotional Bonds From Birth

Responsive parenting builds strong emotional bonds between caregivers and their young children. Learn more and get responsive caregiving tips.

Details

From birth to 3, a child’s brain produces more than 1 million neural connections each second.

Upcoming Events:

Check out our upcoming in-person and virtual events.

Virtual

September 24, 2025

Reflective Practice Reflections: Voices Calling Us to Action, Connection, and Community

Join us on a reflective journey through past and future LEARN Conference Practice Plenaries, highlighting powerful voices and insights.

Details

Virtual

September 30, 2025

IECMH Financing Webinar 2: Understanding True Costs of IECMH Programs and Services

Details

Baltimore, MD

October 6, 2025

Faculty Institute: DC:0–5™

Dive into the only diagnostic classification system focused on mental health for infants and young children, birth to 5 years old.

Details

Baltimore, MD

October 6, 2025

Faculty Institute: Critical Competencies

Transform teacher-child interactions with the essential skills needed to optimize social-emotional, cognitive, and language and literacy development—the ZERO TO THREE Critical Competencies for Infant-Toddler Educators™

Details

Baltimore, MD

October 7, 2025

Pre-Conference Forum: Leadership for Wellness

Join us for this engaging forum to explore the latest research and effective methods for supporting well-being.

Details

Baltimore, MD

October 7, 2025

Pre-Conference Forum: In This Together

Gain valuable insights into building enduring, collaborative relationships that strengthen the well-being of children, families, communities, and yourself.

Details

Baltimore, Maryland

October 8, 2025

LEARN Conference 2025

Details

Virtual

October 21, 2025

IECMH Financing Webinar 3: Filling the Gap: Tax Revenue Building

Details

Virtual

November 4, 2025

DC:0—5™: Clinical Training

Tailored for those working with infants and young children, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and case formulation.

Details

Virtual

November 5, 2025

The Growing Brain Basics Webinar Series

Explore how the brain grows and develops from conception to 5 years old and how you can support healthy brain development during these years when the brain is the most plastic, or receptive to change.

Details

Let's make babies and families a national priority.

Your gift to ZERO TO THREE will help give children the best possible start in life.

Supporting a child in their first 1,000 days is a gift that can last a lifetime!

A Closer Look

New Early Childhood Books and Best Sellers | ZERO TO THREE

Explore our vast range of evidence-based resources and educational books designed to strengthen your practice.

Details

Join the Think Babies™ Campaign!

Learn about how you can get involved in the Think Babies™ campaign to promote enriching early experiences and a strong foundation from the start. It's time for policymakers to think babies.

Details

Early Childhood Issue Areas

Details

Calling All Baby Champions

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, community leader or policymaker, you can support our efforts and do your part in giving infants and toddlers a strong start in life.

Sign up for our newsletter to access the latest resources, learn about upcoming events and more. Help advance our initiative by making a donation or becoming a member.